Study suggests potential risks for some on low-dose aspirin regime
Like many people, I take a baby aspirin every day – on my doctor's advice – to hopefully reduce my chances of having a heart attack or stroke.
So a new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association got my attention. It suggests that being on a low-dose aspirin regime may increase your risk of internal bleeding in the stomach or the brain – more than doctors had previously assumed.
At the Cleveland Clinic, Dr. Stanley Hazen, MD says aspirin can be a lifesaver for someone with a history of cardiovascular disease.
"Aspirin clearly shows a potential benefit in terms of reducing the risk of heart, stroke and death," Hazen said.
But for a healthy person with a low risk, the issue is more complicated.
"That's the kind of individual that you really need to look twice at and say, 'Will they benefit from taking a low-dose aspirin?' " he said.
The study shows the risks are low, maybe one or two people out of a thousand. Even so, if you are at low-risk of a heart attack or stroke and taking low-dose aspirin, you should talk to your doctor about whether you should continue. That's what I plan to do.
Before Taking Aspirin, Know Your Heart Risk, Doctors Say
So a new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association got my attention. It suggests that being on a low-dose aspirin regime may increase your risk of internal bleeding in the stomach or the brain – more than doctors had previously assumed.
At the Cleveland Clinic, Dr. Stanley Hazen, MD says aspirin can be a lifesaver for someone with a history of cardiovascular disease.
"Aspirin clearly shows a potential benefit in terms of reducing the risk of heart, stroke and death," Hazen said.
But for a healthy person with a low risk, the issue is more complicated.
"That's the kind of individual that you really need to look twice at and say, 'Will they benefit from taking a low-dose aspirin?' " he said.
The study shows the risks are low, maybe one or two people out of a thousand. Even so, if you are at low-risk of a heart attack or stroke and taking low-dose aspirin, you should talk to your doctor about whether you should continue. That's what I plan to do.
Before Taking Aspirin, Know Your Heart Risk, Doctors Say
